Do You Have a Dedicated Decapping Press?

29 September 2010, 19:09

I am looking at adding a dedicated decapping press to use with my Redding Big Boss II and the soon to be added Dillon either the 550 or the 650. When I get the stand built for it I can decide on that - 550 or 650, 650 or 550

.

Primer crud can be a problem in the progressives and I like to keep my "main" press as clean as I can too. I like the Big Boss II but it is bit heavy duty to just move around as a decapper.

I looked at the Lee Challenger ($45), the RCBS small press ($75) and the large cast Lee($85). The RCBS got nixed as not tube collection. I dont have good luck with Lee - but you would think one of those would work. I am not so sure what you get for $45.

I like the tube collection . I dont think the Redding has dropped a primer. Seems that I read that Redding makes a ram without the primer arm cut out. Anybody used this?

What do you use? I could just add another Redding and call it good but something a bit smaller would be good so I can move it to another bench or small spot.

Or dont. Just throw them in there and run 'em.

29 September 2010, 19:28

Nomo4me

No
With a co-ax I don't need a dedicated anything. Dies snap in & snap out. Like owning that "easy button" in the commericials.

29 September 2010, 19:43

DMB

I use a Neil Jones hand held decapper. It's fast, and gets the job done before resizing, so I don't have spent primers all over the bench.
I just punch the primers into a waste basket, and move on to resizing.

29 September 2010, 20:39

mgoodrich

I have 2 dillion 550's.

1 is set up to decap and size, I then clean the brass (although sometimes I clean first, depends on the brass).

The other is set up with the powder drop and bullet.

I did it this way so if something happenned with either press, I could easily convert over while the other is fixed. (so far haven't broken anything)

I also like to keep the "main" (powder drop and bullet) press as clean as possible.

29 September 2010, 21:57

the jigger

Yes! I have the Lee and have been using it for something over 15yrs. It has the collection pan that works flawlessly.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!

29 September 2010, 22:50

jeffeosso

if you are worried about primer crud buildup, get a hornady ..
and no, i don't have a press set to deprime only and dedicated

29 September 2010, 23:17

temmi

no...

29 September 2010, 23:44

Von Gruff

I have a lee set for decapping only and with a universal die in place only have to change the shell holders. Have found it to be a great addition to the loading bench.

Von Gruff.

29 September 2010, 23:45

Sam

No. I ocassionally deprime rifle brass in a universal depriming die on my T-7, but my progressive is set up for pistol and I deprime as I go. Currently all rifle ammo is made on the T-7.

30 September 2010, 00:25

Blacktailer

Don't know how the Dillon is set up but with my RCBS progressive I can size and decap then prime, charge and seat later. It collects primers too.

30 September 2010, 01:23

SR4759

I hand deprime large lots of brass with a Lee punch and base.

The press does only 3 things.
1. Forms brass
2. Resizes brass that is already deprimed.
3. Seats bullets.

30 September 2010, 01:34

tasunkawitko

quote:
Originally posted by SR4759:
I hand deprime large lots of brass with a Lee punch and base.

+1 - works like a charm.

30 September 2010, 01:43

TexKD

Thanks for all the replies.

NoMo - No I dont "need" anything either. It is more an ease and housekeeping thing. The Redding works great as I sure either Dillon will.

DMB - Thanks - thats a thought too. I have Wilson punches and bases but I was looking other.

Mgood - Wow - good set up. Too big for me but it is the way to go. No down time ever!

Jigger - Which Lee is that?

Gruff - Thanks - which Lee?

Sam - I sold my T-7 to make room for the progressive.

Blactailer - Yes the Dillon does too. It seems in reading that more problems and stoppages are from cleanliness - so I was thinking about the addition and just keeping it set with the Redding or even my Lee decapper. Of course if it is BLUE - then I would have to have BLUE LOL. Kool-Aid got me.

SR4759 & Tasun - Thanks too!

30 September 2010, 01:50

TexKD

quote:
Originally posted by jeffeosso:
if you are worried about primer crud buildup, get a hornady ..
and no, i don't have a press set to deprime only and dedicated

I knew this was coming

I have not forgotten your gracious offer. I just have been swamped.

I talked a bit to Sinclair and they were about even - like we are here. Half for Dillon and half for the Hornady they sell. He was pushing to stock the Hornady casefeeder. When you add that the prices start getting closer.

Did you have any real crud problems on the Dillons? It seems many of the problems "revolve" around that. And no auto index revolve of course

.

Thank you.

30 September 2010, 03:05

Red C.

I have a dedicated decapping and priming press--that is, all I do on that press is deprime and prime, so I suppose it isn't technically a dedicated decapping press, just nearly. It is one of the really cheap Lee C presses (cost about $18.00 back when I bought it) but it works just fine for decapping and priming.

30 September 2010, 03:21

cricker

1 press for me............Lee turret. Works every tme.

Rick

30 September 2010, 03:31

Jim C. <><

I bought the surprisingly good little Lee "Reloader" press and Universal Deprime Die about 15 years ago. Bored a hole under the mount so I could let the spent primers drop out of the collection chamber into a pill bottle.

Liked the little press so well I got another to use with Lee's "Autoprime II". Love both rigs; NO primer grit or spent caps bounching out of my RC to the floor and I get very fast and consistant primer seating too!

30 September 2010, 05:46

ted thorn

Nope, I deprime when I size.

30 September 2010, 05:59

Sam

Tex, I took the Rockchucker off my bench to make room for the T-7. Now I need to remount the RCBS to use with a collet bullet puller. It's a pain to use it in the T-7. I started out usig the universal deprimer before I took the crimp out of the primer pockets. Then I decided to go ahead and size and deprime before I took out the crimp. It cut a step out of processing so the deprime die doesn't get used as much.

30 September 2010, 07:42

FMC

Yes. When I bought my CoAx, I kept my Redding and use it exclusively for decapping. I also have the RCBS primer thingamajig. I have all 3 mounted side to side on my reloading bench.

30 September 2010, 08:26

Stoneybroke

My setup includes an old C&H press with rcbs deprime die.

30 September 2010, 08:35

Von Gruff

quote:
Originally posted by TexKD:

Gruff - Thanks - which Lee?

Just the little C press as it is only for depriming and the C press gives good access. I also drilled a hole through the bench and screwed a jar top with a matching hole under the bench and have a jar half full of spent primers. No more primers on the floor. Of course for my 20Cal I use the Wilson dies because the universal is too big.

Von Gruff.

30 September 2010, 18:55

the jigger

Challenger!
Sorry for the omission.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

02 October 2010, 02:30

muck

Yes. I use the Lee reloader press.

muck

02 October 2010, 02:53

Crashbox

Hmmm... I do not have a dedicated press as such, but I do use my Hornady single-stage with a Lee decapitating die to decap when I want to ultrasonically clean my cases.

02 October 2010, 21:46

Atkinson

Another NO

The main difference in men and boys is the price of the mens toys comes to mind!

I supose were all guilty from time to time.

03 October 2010, 06:54

BigJakeJ1s

quote:
Originally posted by Crashbox:
Hmmm... I do not have a dedicated press as such, but I do use my Hornady single-stage with a Lee decapitating die to decap when I want to ultrasonically clean my cases.

A decapitating die seems a bit severe for just depriming brass...

Andy

03 October 2010, 09:03

Crashbox

quote:
Originally posted by BigJakeJ1s:
quote:
Originally posted by Crashbox:
Hmmm... I do not have a dedicated press as such, but I do use my Hornady single-stage with a Lee decapitating die to decap when I want to ultrasonically clean my cases.

A decapitating die seems a bit severe for just depriming brass...

Andy

I was wondering if/when someone would catch it- I threw it in there quite deliberately. GOOD CATCH!

03 October 2010, 10:17

Kevin Rohrer

I have my decapping die in a turret amongst the bullet seating dies.

Member:
Orange Gunsite Family, NRA--Life, Varmint Hunters' Assn., ARTCA, and American Legion.

"An armed society is a polite society" --Robert Heinlein via Col. Jeff Cooper, USMC

Caveat Emptor: Don't trust *Cavery Grips* from Clayton, NC. He is a ripoff.

04 October 2010, 01:53

CMcDermott

I just slip a Lyman Universal Decapping die in my Co-Ax press and can de-cap everything I load. And the Co-Ax originated the now popular bottle at the end of a tube that catches not only the primers but the rest of the crud as well. Just remember to clean that tube occasionally with a brass brush and it works great.

04 October 2010, 06:17

TexKD

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
Another NO

The main difference in men and boys is the price of the mens toys comes to mind!

I supose were all guilty from time to time.

It is really good to see you posting again and have your experience around here Ray. Thanks.

But I bet you have more than one press!

04 October 2010, 06:24

TexKD

Thank you to everyone who posted a reply.

I am going to look at the little RCBS again in spite of the lack of the tube primner collection system. Just because it so portable and I can move it bench to bench if I need to.

If not I will look into one of the Lees a bit more. A lot of you have had good luck with yours.

I have been busy on some other things and have yet to get to the Dillon set up anyway - but maybe in another week.